Jose Hernandez, a long-time employee at a prominent New York hotel, has filed a lawsuit alleging age discrimination after being terminated from his position. On February 16, 2026, Hernandez filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against Highgate Hotels, L.P., claiming that his dismissal was based on age rather than legitimate business reasons.
Hernandez, who had been employed as the Director of Rooms at the Manhattan at Time Square Hotel for over two decades, asserts that he was let go on July 25, 2025. At the time of his termination, Hernandez was 56 years old. According to the complaint, Highgate Hotels cited a lack of funding as the reason for his dismissal. However, Hernandez alleges that this explanation is pretextual and claims that he was replaced by a significantly younger individual named Ayana Munson shortly after his termination. The complaint further states that Munson’s hiring contradicts Highgate Hotels’ response to an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charge filed by Hernandez in November 2025. In their response to the EEOC, Highgate Hotels claimed they did not replace Hernandez but instead distributed his duties among existing employees.
The lawsuit accuses Highgate Hotels of violating several laws designed to protect employees from age discrimination: the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL), and the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL). Hernandez argues that these violations have caused him significant financial harm and emotional distress. He seeks compensation for lost wages and benefits and requests punitive damages due to what he describes as willful misconduct by Highgate Hotels.
Hernandez is represented by Jon A. Stockman of The Law Office of Jon A. Stockman in New York City. The case has been assigned Case ID 1:26-cv-01281 and will be presided over by judges from the Southern District of New York.
Source: 126cv01281_Jose_Hernandez_v_Highgate_Hernandez_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York.pdf
